The latest update from the Firefox browser, which was introduced by Mozilla earlier this week, fixed 13 security vulnerabilities that were present in the previous version of the browser, and described seven of them as very dangerous.

But on the other hand, the new features and features in the new update, called "Firefox 78", were limited and modest, most notably improvements to eliminate user tracking tools, and it also contained unusual errors that required "update update" after it was officially released.

According to a technical review conducted by the browsers department’s analysts at Computer World, and its results were published, finally, the new update from Firefox does not represent a significant or significant shift, whether when compared to some previous versions of it, or with what competitors offer and Google’s lead Chrome and Microsoft Edge.

Highlights

The most prominent new features that Firefox 78 carried was the Unified Protection Panel, which is a simplified and comprehensive interface, through which the user can take advantage of the improvements made in the feature of tracking tools and technologies that track user activities that he performs through the browser, such as his visits. For different websites, and its use of Internet services, such as buying and shopping, downloading programs and books, how long it stays on different sites, and more.

Computer World analysts described the improvements in this functionality as an almost complete "crush" process for tools and technologies that track user activities.

The new "unified protection board" included additional improvements made to the function of protecting passwords stored inside the browser, so that access to them is prohibited only for the account holder or who has the right to use the program, while at the same time strengthening and extending the feature of reporting any violation and leakage that occurs to the important saved data In the program, whether passwords or others, as the browser is reviewing a larger number of leaked data lists over the Internet, and comparing them with the saved data, according to updated algorithms, it ensures detection and reporting more quickly.

3 improvements

The new update included three other improvements, the first being improvements to the configuration options, which included shortening some of the steps that were required to reach a specific setting mode, to make the adjustment process easier, as well as adding some new modes, while the second improvement represented the property dealing with problems that May result from the process of updating the browser in the future, as this function works through a key called "renewal", and when pressed, the browser cleans itself and works to remove problems caused by the update process, without the need to reinstall the browser again.

As for the third improvement, enter the screen saver that makes the browser in a state of complete sleep, as it has been modified so that the stopping is taking place as usual, but without stopping or affecting any ongoing chat or video chat in the meantime.

Update problems

The new update was accompanied by the emergence of unusual problems, as Mozilla, the browser-producing company, follows a fast-paced update cycle of up to four weeks, and is therefore faster than Google, Microsoft and Apple in this respect. It was not usual for sudden problems to appear in its periodic updates. But with «Firefox 78», it became clear on the day after its official launch, that once installed, three problems appear, namely, the disappearance of all search engines stored in the browser before installation, in addition to the interruption of the auto-completion of the address bar, in addition to a disruption in the search engine field On the home page.

With these errors, the company was forced to offer an "update for the update" to eliminate the three problems, for those who have not yet downloaded the new update, or to introduce a separate file to address these problems among those who have already installed the update.

Corrected vulnerabilities

From a security standpoint, Mozilla’s engineers worked to correct 13 security holes, the presence of which was reported in the previous version of the browser, among which were seven vulnerabilities classified as “high” severity, which is the second degree of security risk in Firefox browsers, but did not There were no errors or glitches classified in the first degree known as "critical", in contrast to many previous versions and updates, reflecting the improvement in the security situation of the browser as a whole during this cycle of the update.

'Unified dashboard'

The "unified dashboard", which is characterized by the new version of the Firefox browser, provides more comfort, as it is designed in an improved manner, compared to what was the case in previous versions of the browser, so that the new elements in it display the passwords that have been victimized For known violations, as well as the steps the user has already taken to mitigate the listed violations, which may involve changing passwords, taking into account two-factor authentication and the like. The Firefox security control panel can be called from the list on the far right (the three horizontal lines) or by entering the "About - Protection" command in the address bar.